The bout, which pitted two of the organization’s top 170-pound prospects against each other, saw mostly clinch fighting. The action there was mostly even, but Woodley mixed in some timely takedowns and usually was the aggressor during their exchanges. The combination was enough to lead him to a decision victory via scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

“I did well,” the satisfied former University of Missouri wrestler said. “Tarec is a very tough guy, has some power and some pop. He switches his stance. He’s a difficult guy.

“I endured. I pressed him. I think I kept the pressure on him and kept him from doing a lot of pressing.”

With the win, Woodley (8-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) is expected to graduate to the organization’s “Arena Series” shows and now finds himself within reach of a title shot.

Saffiedine (10-3 MMA, 2-1 SF), who finally won the third round with a well-balanced attack, snaps a three-fight win streak and suffers just his second loss in 11 fights.

St. Preux wins third fight in seven weeks

It didn’t come easy, and Ron “Abongo” Humphrey proved a game opponent, but former University of Tennessee football player and fast-rising light heavyweight Ovince St. Preux picked up his third win in seven weeks with a unanimous-decision victory.

St. Preux jumped out to an early lead with a dominant first round that included solid foot and ground work. Only Humphrey’s kneebar attempt in the first slowed St-Preux. And though he’d have to fight off additional submission attempts in later rounds and even took a few heavy shots to the chin, St. Preux proved the clear winner in the often-entertaining three-rounder.

In the end, all three judges awarded the nimble and powerful prospect the decision win via scores of 30-27.

After the fight, St-Preux, who also picked up Challengers wins on Nov. 19 and Dec. 4, admitted he’s looking forward to a breather.

St-Preux (10-4 MMA, 4-0 SF) now has won seven straight while Humphrey (7-3 MMA, 1-3 SF) suffers his third defeat in his past four fights.

Cormier gets first decision win

The evolution of Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier continues, and though the heavyweight went to a decision for the first time in his career, it still resulted in a lopsided unanimous-decision victory over Devin Cole.

Although the pace slowed in the second half of the fight, Cormier showed solid striking, improved ground work, and an effective top game to keep himself out of any real trouble. Cole, though, proved a game opponent and took many heavy shots without so much as a stumble.

In the end, though, all three judges awarded Cormier, a product of the American Kickboxing Academy, a decision victory via 30-27 scores.

“He did an incredible job,” said Cormier, who admitted he was disappointed with the performance. “He fought well, fought hard. He can take a shot. I landed some pretty decent shots on him.

“I think we don’t expect a performance like that with AKA and my punches. But I appreciate the opportunity from Strikeforce and Devin for taking the fight.”

The ever-busy Cormier (7-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) now has seven wins in 17 months of pro fighting. Cole (18-9-1 MMA, 0-1 SF), a longtime IFL fighter, losses for just the second time in nine fights.

Nunes stuns Nunes with 14-second KO

If Strikeforce officials need a marketable opponent for seemingly unbeatable 145-pound champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, they may now have one.

In the night’s lone female matchup, fellow Brazilian striker Amanda Nunes shocked opponent Julia Budd with an open flurry of punches, dropped her, and then forced a lightning-quick 14-second knockout stoppage with a series of hammerfists.

After the quick victory, Nunes said her ultimate wish in the organization is a shot at Santos.

“‘Cyborg’ is my final goal,” she said through a translator. “That time will come.”

Since a loss in his pro debut, Nunes (6-1 MMA, 1-0 SF), a Strikeforce newcomer, has won six consecutive fights. Budd (1-1 MMA, 1-1 SF), who made her MMA and Strikeforce debut with a knockout of Shana Olsen in October, suffers her first defeat.

Ferguson survives early trouble

Late replacement John Richard wasn’t about to settle for an easy paycheck and twice had his opponent in trouble, but fellow light heavyweight and former Olympic judoka Rhadi Ferguson stormed back for a slick second-round submission victory.

Richard, who replaced Ion Cherdivara (visa issues) on just a few days’ notice, scored the fight’s first takedown and nearly cinched a rear-naked choke. But Ferguson escaped and closed out the round with a dominant ground-and-pound display. Toss in Richard’s one-point deduction for spitting out his mouthpiece three times, and Ferguson had a 10-8 lead.

In the second, Richard again struck early, but an inside leg kick may have caught more groin than thigh. Ferguson was stunned by the pain, and Richard quickly took him to the mat. But Ferguson quickly looked for kneebar before expertly transitioning into a fight-ending heel hook.

The stoppage came at the 2:00 mark of the second round.

“That leg lock, straight Lloyd Irvin,” said Ferguson, who said a pulled groin slowed his training camp. “I’m a neophyte in this sport. I’m young, I’m still learning, and I’m humble.”

With the win over Richard (3-2 MMA, 0-1 SF), Ferguson (3-0 MMA, 1-0 SF) remains undefeated in his young career.

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